Northrup defeats Cloud for House District 50

I’m floating!” Republican incumbent David Northrup said Tuesday after his primary-election win put him above Charles Cloud for District 50’s seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives.

“I’m pretty excited,” Northrup said. “Astrid (Northrup’s wife) is on one phone, I’m on the other. It’s a phone-call night.”

House District 50 extends from the east side of Cody to the Willwood, encompassing Heart Mountain and Ralston as well.

In his campaign, Cloud at times contended that HD50 is a Cody seat and should be filled by someone living in Cody, because that’s where the district’s largest population density is.

Northrup, who lives on the Willwood, said he believes his win — 1,416 votes, 60.8 percent of votes cast, over Cloud’s 906 votes, or 38.9 percent — shows that the residency issue “is a non-issue.”

The remaining 0.3 percent represents write-in votes. Under- and over-votes are not counted.

Northrup did enjoy stronger support from the eastern part of the county: Between Ralston, Heart Mountain and the Willwood, Northrup received some 68.8 percent of the vote. However, Northrup also fared well in Cody, taking more than 58 percent of the vote within Cody city limits.

In all, Northrup won 10 of the 12 precincts that make up the district.

Northrup tied Cloud in Clark (with 75 votes apiece) while coming up just three votes short of Cloud in the rural area north of Cody (39 votes to Cloud’s 42).

“We have to represent everyone in the district, no matter where they live,” Northrup said. “We have to work together to get things done.”

Cloud said he called Northrup Tuesday evening to offer his congratulations.

“He was very gracious,” Cloud said. “He said I had pointed out some weaknesses in his representation. He said he would take those seriously, and I think he was genuine. I wish him the best of luck.

“Obviously, David’s message struck closer to the values of the people of Park County,” Cloud said. “I wish him the best of luck.”

No Democratic, third-party or independent candidates have filed for HD 50, making it likely that Northrup’s win Tuesday means he will return to Cheyenne in January with the 2015 Legislature.

Northrup said he wants to continue to be a voice for agriculture in the House. With some existing members of the House Agriculture Committee losing to challengers on Tuesday, he said it’s possible he could be assigned to that committee.

He currently serves on the House Education and Revenue committees and the Select Water Committee.

All primary election results are unofficial until certified by the Park County Canvassing Committee.